2018 Beauty Goals

I’m aware it’s almost February, making this list a little behind the curve. But is anyone else having a tough go at kicking the new year off right? Anyways, better late than never! Here are some beauty goals to help make 2018 our most beautiful yet.

Drink more water. It’s the most boring tip and is on literally everyone’s list, but that’s because it’s SO important. When you’re even the slightest bit dehydrated, it shows in your eyes, skin, and in your mood! Drink at least half your body weight in ounces every day to maintain a supple glow in your skin, brightness in your eyes, and clarity in your brain. If you can’t get excited about chugging plain water all day (I know I can’t), try dropping a few slices of organic fruit or herbs into your water bottle for a little flavor and a boost of nutrients. My fave combo at the moment is a few slices of orange and a sprig of rosemary.

Don’t over-exfoliate! With scrubs, cleansing devices and brushes, AHAs, BHAs, retinols, enzymes, and more hitting the shelves at record paces, it’s no wonder everyone’s a little exfoliant-happy at the moment. While exfoliating is incredibly important for keeping skin healthy and glowy-looking, too much of a good thing can definitely be a bad thing, especially for your skin’s protective barrier. Over-exfoliating quickly depletes your skin’s moisture barrier - a mix of cells, and lipids that help protect your skin for environmental assailants and seal in your Natural Moisture Factors. I see so many clients with irritated, red, chaffed skin; a sure sign of a damaged moisture barrier. When I ask about their regimens, they’re inevitably over-exfoliating! Acid cleansers with a Clarisonic, exfoliating tonics, retinol treatments at night, and weekly peels is too much, folks. Especially in Colorado’s dry climate, less is more.Try to stick with one to two forms of exfoliation MAX, up to three times a week, and mostly at night (especially if it’s a leave-on treatment).

Take a ‘glass half full’ approach to your makeup routine. Makeup can be a powerful tool - if you’ve ever seen one of those incredible makeup transformation videos, you know what I’m talking about! And while I love all the amazing tips and tricks being shared online about everything from covering up a blemish to narrowing a wide nose to chiseling out razor-sharp cheekbones, I worry that it’s making us a little insecure. I can’t tell you how many clients I have come up to me asking for a smaller nose, a skinner face, wider or more elongated eyes, etc. because they hate feature x or y on their faces. Enough! Let’s change the conversation. I want to teach you how to make your beautiful eye color pop, how to make your gorgeous skin glow, or about how to highlight your stunning smile with a bold lip color. Let’s talk about playing up our favorite features, not fixing ever tiny thing to look like some instagram clone. Which brings me to my next point:

Unfollow social media accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. We all follow those impossibly perfect instagram accounts. You know the ones: they’re impeccably dressed, with eyebrows always fleek-in, hair and nails did, with nutritious meals prepped and exotic travel plans made. #lifegoals. It’s supposed to be inspiring, but the only way they can get all that done is because THAT’S ALL THEY DO. They actually get paid to create that digital lookbook. So if you find it overwhelming and can’t help but feel like you’re coming up short in comparison, it’s as easy as an “Unfollow”. Don’t subject yourself to impossible expectations. It’s supposed to fun and inspiring - a place to find and share new ideas. If it ever does the opposite for you, hit that unfollow and move on!

Treat your skin from within. As beauty aficionados, most of us are well-versed in scouring the shelves for topical treatments to treat whatever skin woes we’re facing. But a lot of us forget that whatever is happening with our skin is a sign of our overall health - it is our biggest organ, after all. So don’t forget to look at the deeper meaning behind what your skin is displaying; stress, hormonal changes, diet, sleep and exercise habits all play a role in the look and health of our skin. So before you go for the topical arsenal, try chugging some water, getting some exercise, and upping your nutrient intake. Getting into the habit of treating your skin as the vital organ it is will pay off in the long run, I promise!